fb444's Group FULL (Page 4)

That is a foriegn feeling to me.  It takes me forever to get going.  I've never been a morning person and since I've started working out in the mornings about 3 years ago, I'm still not a morning person.  It's still hard every day to get up in the mornings.  It's only when I am super motivated because of an impending event that I seem to be able to really stick to my program. 

How do you all stay motivated in the off season?  Maybe I need to not have an off season...

Brian - Mountain bikes are fine, from the races I have entered probably around 25% ride one, absolutely an okay thing to do. You definitely won'y look silly.

The pace you run at is a personal thing, don't get hung up on how it compares to others, the key thing is to enjoy the event. You run for you and, like you already mentioned, your goal is to complete a triathlon so no need to get hung up on pace. In the running club I belonged to in the UK we had a broad range of competitors with paces ranging from sub 5 minute miling up to 16 minutes per mile. All were respected equally.

What are the distances in the April tri you are thinking about? I assume with your Navy search and rescue background the swim portion will be straight forward. Need to remember that stringing 3 events together takes more out of you than each one undertaken separately, so think about your stamina.

If you feel up to the distance nothing wrong with just jumping in, no need to spectate first unless you want to. It's really about what you feel comfortable with.

Feel free to keep the questions coming - Fred 

I didn't go watch a tri before mine.  I did watch one on TV though.  Basically, just make sure you have everything you need laid out in the transition zone.  The transitions are the hardest part in my opinion.  You gotta be organized, have a plan, and practice your transitions at home a few times before you do your tri.  You can lose a lot of time in the transitions if you have all your stuff crammed in a bag and have to dig around for everything.  Usually you lay all your stuff out on a towel in the order you are going to use it.  Make sure you try not to take up too much space so the person next to you doesn't get pissed and move your stuff around.  Don't take anything into transition that you don't need, and always bring with you an extra few things, such as goggles, just in case you break or forget them or lose them.

This is a great site you can print it out and check things off as you pack them.

http://triathlon.racechecklist.com/

As far as the mountain bike, most people use road bikes, but I saw a lot of people on mountain bikes in the tri I did.  Just remember that you won't be as fast on a mountain bike so don't compare your bike time to others.  You could get slicks for your mtb and that will help some and make it a bit easier on your legs. 

Don't worry about your first tri.  Everyone told me not to worry about pace, just go and do it and finish it cause your first one is more of a learning experience on how to do triathlons.  Except of course for those genetically gifted people who I am not one of.

GMac, how do you get by on so little sleep?  I envy people who can do that.  I'm a basket case if I don't get 7.5 hours min.  I can do on less for a couple of days, but then I have to sleep in for a day cause I feel like crap.

Sounds like you had a good workout.  There's something mentally wrong with me cause it always seems colder getting in the pool in the winter then in the summer and it's the same temperature.

It's been in the 60's yesterday and today here.  woohoo!  It's been hot!  The ice and snow is FINALLY starting to melt, hopefully it will be all gone by the end of the week as it's supposed to be warm all week.  Of course now that everything is melting the barn is a mudpit.  It's really gross.  Poor Pinata has to stand out in that all day, yuck. 

So, after playing with my new heart rate monitor for the past several runs I've learned something.  I am doing intervals, but my heart rate isn't coming down enough on my rest, so I don't get those spikes in heart rate and I am not recovering enough before I start my next interval.  That is why I'm not getting faster, because I thought I was doing intervals and I really wasn't.

So now that I know that, I'll be able to monitor that as I am running and start to do some real interval training, which should, hopefully, make me faster. 

Try the link below for a great guide to heart rate training. A lot of reading but really worthwhile advice. It's somewhat counter intuitive in that you end up training at a more steady pace to get faster, AND it works! Give it a try - Fred

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=25733&start=1

So I read some of that thread and I know I need to go figure out my LT so I can set the appropriate zones on my HRM.  That test sounds evil though, even though the LT test is easier then the max HR test, it's still evil.  I need to go read my HRM manual and see what it recommends.  Maybe I'll do it next week, or over the weekend when I can get plenty of rest.

I did have a good run this morning though, 2.25 miles in 26 minutes.  Slow and easy.  Well, slow, but not so easy, haha.

Laura,

If you are using the Garmin 305 it is best to set your HR zone manually. The automatic calculation was way off for me and from reading the Motion Based forum that appears to be true for many people. Getting the zones set up prpoerly is the foundation for HR training so it's essential to get it right - Fred

Brian - Good advice from Sara, could just be your "body clock" adjusting that is hindering your run. Also worthwhile reverting back to your old shoes and see if it makes a difference.

Shoes can make a huge difference if they are not compatible with your running style or weight. Let us know how you get on.

Fred

Fred,

Yes, I know I need to set them manually to really know what zones I'm training in.  In order to do that I have to do the max heart rate test.  I am going to do that next week one day on my hard run day.  It's going to suck. 

Brian - Read through your logs and you are at a good starting point for biking and running. I think you already have a swimming background but would be interested to know what distance/pace you train at. With regard to doing too little or too much, we are all different and the best way to determine if you are doing too much is listen to your body. You progressively need to increase the amount of training you do in balance with your work schedule and how good you feel. The link below takes you to a good BT training schedule which is ideal for anyone preparing for their first triathlon.  You can compare your current training program and see the increase in training needed over time. As with all schedules they are a guide and can be adapted to suit your needs.

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=261

Don't be discouraged by the gap to close, as you train more frequently it becomes easier and as you body quickly adapts to the increased distances. Hope this helps, feel free to ask as many questions as you like.

Fred